Safety razor and blade therefor



E. JORGENSEN SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE THEREFOR spf; 1s, 1936.

' l/E ZZ/ward f Original Filed Jan. G, 1932 femsefz Z/QM/ Patented Sept. l5, 1 936 l UNITED STATES ySAFETY Razon AND BLADE rnnasron' Edmund Jorgensen, Chi

one-half to Harold W.

cago, llL, signor of,

Hawes, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 1932, Serial No. 585,102

RencwedNovember-Z, 19.3 5 A 15Claims.-(CLl-58) l .f-

. i. e., a suitable guard for the razor blade cutting 'Irhis invention relates to razors and more particularly to a razor of the type commonly referred .to in the industry as a safety razor.

Still more specically the present invention relates to a razor blader holder as well asto the razor blade for use therein. Y

It is obvious that the only part of a razor blade which is effective for shaving is its cutting edge. In the ordinary removable razor blade of the type used in a safety holder, the material above and beyond that required for the cutting edge serves the'sole function of securing the blade'in its holder. The material required for the cutting edge is only agminute part of that required for the entire blade. v

The material used for the entire bladev is normally of uniform grade and quality and, as is well knownfrazor blade steel is comparatively costly to produce. Thus as to a very substantial lpart of the cost of-the ordinary safety razor blade, viz., 'the' cost of materialthe bulk of the material cost is a waste item, the greatest proportion of this high quality razor'blade steel being used simply for the purpose of securing or attaching the blade in its holder.

Itis an object of this invention to eliminate this material waste factor yby providing a removable razor `blade unitfor use in a holder in its entirety comprising a blade properof such ex-` tremely narrow ,width that its cutting edge would necessarily lbe contacted in ordinary manual handling ifit were not suitably protected, and so fragile that the blade would unavoidabiy be bent tacting foreign objects. This blade, without suit` able protection for its cutting edge. would be difficult to manually apply to and remove from a holder therefor. While it is true that all safety razor blades are in varying degrees unsafe to manually handle and the. cutting edges of such blades would just as readily be spoiled bycontacting foreign objectswhat is very desirable withfl other blades becomes imperative with 'my blade,

edge must be provided. f

It is, therefore, anothervobject of my invention to provide a casing, sheath or scabbard for protectively enclosing the cutting edge of a razor I blade and to serve as well as a reinforcementagainst bending or twisting while mimllly handung the blames.l

`It is ai; present wen knownthat the ordinary.

safety razor blade constitutes a distinct nuisance1 1 0 once it has been used and discarded inasmuch as anyone is apt te cut himself on the discarded blade. Furtherm due to the fact that the cutting edgepf the blade is constantly exposed once it has been removed from the paper package 15 in whichait isjijnclosed, it constitutes a constant source of danger inasmuch as it is' always apt to cut a personwho may come into contact with its cutting edge. It will,'therefore, be readily under. stoodthat'the so-calledsafety razor blade is in 20 reality not a safe instrument at all when the same is exposed and in circulation inasmuch as its cutting edge is at all times` available for. cutting.

` It is an object of this invention to provide a g5 safety razor blade of such construction and ar' rangement that once the blade is incirculation, that is to say, when the blade is not in actual use in the holderA it is 100% safe inasmuch as its cutting edge is covered and cannot possibly come., 30 linto contact with the hands of the person han-i dling the same. L A Now, of course. it will be appreciated that by normally covering the cutting edge of the blade, not

-onlyistheaccidenthazardreducedtoaprac'-345 ticable minimum but in addition thereto, the cuttingedgeisatalltimesprotectedagainstcoming into contact with anything w Awould tend to damage the edge and thus reduceits effectiveness as a shaving edge. This feature is decidedly advantageous since it prolongs the longevity of the blade and preserves it in the condition in which it is intended for use.

It also follows that with a blade of the type I have invented it becomes necessary to provide a new type of holder in which the blade may be inserted, which holder is 'of such a character as to render available the normally covered cutting edge for shaving. That is to say. a relative movement must be created between the blade and its coverso as to expose the shavlng'edge for use during the shaving operation. To this end I have also provided a holder for -effecting the `objectsoi'myinvention. to the materlalsavlng, safety and 55 simplicity features of my razor blade, it also has decided advantages from' a manufacturing standpoint in that it may be manufactured and placed on the market with much less expense than any of the existing` safety razor blades. In other words, it is cheaper to manufacture, cheaper to package and cheaper to handle and distribute to the trade.

'I'he blade of my invention is cheaper to make not only for the reason that it has far less material than any existing blade but also due to the fact that there are fewer operations requiredin its construction, as for. instance, the fact that there are no perforations necessary to be made in my blade for the purpose of securing it in the holder.. v

It is cheaper to place in package form due toA the fact that it does not require any paper package toenclose it, inasmuch as the sheath or scabbard of the blade itself constitutes the package for the blade. The sheath which I have pro-' vided for normally covering the cutting edge of the blade is as will be readily appreciated, far i more effective as a protective cover for the cutting edge than anypaper enclosure for the blade could possibly be. However, despite the fact that the .sheath is more substantial than the present paper cover, its application to the blade of my invention does not in the least increasesthe cost of packaging since it may be applied to the blade with greater facility than a paper cover and .its

cost of application to the blade is much less than the cost ofthe application of the typical paper f wrapper now` employed to cover the existing forms of safely razorblades.

' Another very imPQrtant advantage of this invention resides in the fact thatwith the sheath which I have provided for the blade the bladeV may be put into use with far greater facility than existing blades, for it is not first necessary to remove the blade of-my invention from the paper wrapping before the blade can be applied to the razor blade holder. Not only is my razor blade unit easier to place in the holde1 and remove therefrom, but due to the edge thereof being at all times covered prior both to its securement in the holder'and after'its removaltlrerefrom, it is much'safer to handle than the existing blade which is very apt to cut the hands of the user inits application to andremoval from the.conven tional razor blade holder.

From'the foregoing it will now be evidentthe .objects of my invention are severalfold. In the first-place,` it is the aim of this invention to provide a practical means for using blade which is of such small size, such narrow width and sim` ple construction, that it may be manufactured at a far less cost than the existing blades. An-

other object of th'e invention is to provide an improved and simplified blade which has its cutting edge at all times covered, except when the blade. is actually inthe holder in shaving posiare reduced to a minimum. Still another lobject tion so that the accident hazards due to cutting addition to performing its function of instituting a cover and wrapper for the blade, also'serves to at all times hold the blade in a position in which'it maybe into an eiective in an eiective cutting position.

shaving position within the holder. Another and further object of the invention has todo with the feature of providing a sheath and scabbard for the blade of suchl a.' character that it is at all times held in the proper position on the blade as a result, of thetight fit existing between the blade 4and the sheath. This is an especially advantageous feature from the standpoint of economy in Amanufacture and from the standpoint of` the ease with which the blade may be put into use. Last, but not least, it is an aim of this invention to provide a holder which is especially adapted for use with a razor blade of my invention and which is capablevof causing a relative movement between the blade and its sheathso as to dispose the cutting edge of the blade in a position wherein it may be effective for shaving.

Other objects or advantages of this invention lwith l blade unit embodying the-features of this invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through the head of the razor blade holder and more particularly on the line IV-IV o f Fig-` ure l looking downwardly;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary Asectional view partly in elevation taken on the line V-V 'of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing the razor in its closed position with the blade edge exposed for shaving; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 taken on the line VI--VI of Figure 2 but differing from mechanism employed for causing relative Inovement between` the blade and its sheath; and

Figure 8 is a' transverse sectional view taken on the line `VIII-VIII Vof Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing the position of the cutting edge of the blade when the cutting edge is exposed for the shaving operation, it being, of course, appreciated that this.

cutting 'edge is` not exposed during the normal handling of the Yblade but is only exposedy in the manipulation of the holder to'cause a relative movement between I(the blade'and the sheath whereby the cutting edge of the bladeis placed A's shown on the drawing The reference character I 0 Vdesignates generally the handle of my raz'or blade holder which handle may be of any desired or suitable construction. This handle has secured to one end a head designated by the reference character Il which is so vconstructed as to be adapted. to. receive a razor blade unit embodying the features of this invention. The head,' H, embodies a -U-shaped construction which includes downwardly disposed arms, I3 and I4, connected by a cross-piece, l5, (Fig. 4),. This construction, l2, is rigidly secured to the handle, i0, and constitutes the Suvpoltint strucasv than by the tightness ofA iitbetween :the blade ture or foundation for the movable parts oi' the razor blade holder. The arms, I3 and I4, of this head are downwardly inclined as will be noticed inliguresandsothatthesearmsaredisposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handie, I0. V

Secured to the'cross member, |5401' the U- shaped construction, I2, is a combination mounting member and guard strip, I 3, (Figures 4, 5 and 6) which forms integral with its lowermost edge the usual guard piece, Il, between the teeth of which the shaving soap is adapted to pass dur-A ing the shaving operation. This mounting member, I6, has a pair oi' spaced apertures, IB, (Fig.

4) for cooperation with the projections, I9 on the` sheath, 20, of my razor blade unit designated generally by the reference character 22, which unit is adapted to be seated on the mounting member i6, as shown in Fig. 4 with the projectionsengaged, I9, in the aperture, I3. These apertures,

I8, cooperate with sheath, 20, to fully align the razor'blade unitiwith the holder 'and to hold the razor blade unit against lateral displacement on the mounting member, I6.

As shown in Figures 3 and 8 the blade unit 22 vembodies the relatively narrow U-shaped scabn bard or sheath 20 provided with the projections i9, and in which scabbard or sheath is disposed a relatively narrow razor blade 23 having a cut- .23 project beyond the ends of the relatively narrow sheath 20, as indicated by the numeral 2?: in

Fig. 3. These free ends 25-25 are adapted to be engaged by the arms in my razor blade holder to cause 'a relative movement between the sheath and the razor blade whereby the edge, 2t, is uncovered for use during shaving and is'recovered after such use and prior to removal from the holder.

It is to be noted at this time that the blade 23 is of the safety razor bladetype, but different from the ordinary safety razo'rin that it is exceedingly narrow whereby quite a saving may be effected in the cost of the manufacture of the' blade. The sheath 20 in addition to performingl its function of constituting a cover for the cuta lting edge 24 also reinforces the blade and in reality constitutes a package orenclosure ior the blade, whereby this blade unit may be sold to the trade without the additional wrapping thereon vsuch as the paper wrapping which is at present used to cover'the conventionalrazorblade. Furthermore, it is to be noted that I nd that I can apply this .sheath or casing to the razorV blade with less cost than a paper wrapper can be appliedA to the conventional blade, Y

Then too, itis to vbe noted that the blade 23 is not in any way secured to the sheath 20 other and the sheath.. In other words,lthe sheath is tightly disposedon tle blade vso that the blade will not become accidentallydisplaced from the and reinforce the blade and cover the edge 24 of the blade as shown in Fig. 3.v

When this blade unit 22, shown in Fig. 3, is placed in this holder, as shown in Fig. 4,' the i'ree ends 25 of the blade unit are engaged by the forked ends 26 and 28 of a pair of spaced. arms 23 and 30 disposed outside of the arms I3 and I4. 'I'hese arms are loosely and pivotally mounted upon pivots or studs 3I and 32 having threaded portions 33y and tilA threadingly connected to the spaced arms I3 and I4 and to a pair of caps 35 and 35 disposed on the inside of the holder.

1 Also these pivot studs 3| and 32 have enlarged shank portions 3l 'and 3B about which the arms 29 and 3d are adapted to pivot as well as a pair of auxiliary arms 3B and 40 disposed on the outer sides of the arms 2S and 30.

The two arms 29 and 30 constitute the blade engaging arms and the two arms 39 and 40 constitute the arms for manually actuating the arms 29 and 30 to project the cutting edge 24 out of the sheath 29 of the razor blade unit 22.

The two outer arms 39 and 40 are connected by an outer cross-piece 4i including a laterally and inwardly extending blade unit engaging member 42 (Figs. 5, 6 and '1). This member 42 when the razor holder is in an open position is dis posed in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and when the razinholder is in a closed position it is disposed in the position shown, Fig.A 5, in which latter position it is disposed onxtop of the razor blade unit 22.

In this position it will be observed that the` razor blade unit has its cutting edge 2d (Fig. 5)'

projected to an exposed position directly over,

the guard teeth il. On the other hand when the razor is open the blade edge is retracted within the sheath and the member 42 is drawn away from the sheath so that the blade unit may be removed from the top of the supporting member i5 '.scription of the means in connection withthe first-mentioned arms will` be suiiicient for both 4sets oi' arms. .v

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it will be observed that the cross-piece 4I of the arm 39 is adapted to engage a shoulder 43 on the arm 29 upon manual movement or rotation of the arms 33 and 4l and the cross-piece 4I about the axis ot the associated pivot pins 3l and 32. A prac- .with the shoulder whereby the front member 42 of thearms 33-40 Vis permitted to overlap the razor Vblade unit 22, which is disposed on the supporting member I 3 thereby enabling this 'cover member 42 to hold the razor blade unit on the memberil while the razor is being closed. Once the cross-piece 4I has engaged the shoulder 43, the arms 23-33 and 33-43 arecaused to move together about the axis of the pivots 3| and 32.

' Now it will, ofcourse, be appreciated that a movement of the arms 29 and 30 will result in 'l'shall now proceed tof describe in detail the connecting means between the arms 39-40 and sof the biiurcated or forked ends 23 and 23 oi these I arms projecting. forward the blade 23 relative. to

26 and 28 due to their engagement with the free ends 25 and 25 of the razor blade 23 cause the razor blade as a result of forward movement of the arms to be advanced out of the sheath which is prevented from partaking in the movement by the -projections I9, whereby the cutting edge of the blade is exposed for shaving.

IZl'he downward pivoting movement of the arm 29 is limited by the projecting ends of the guard member I1, shown in Fig. 5.

It will. of course, be appreciated that the crosspiece 4i and its integral arms 39 and I0 are actuated downwardly by manually depressing. the cross-piece 4l to push it downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5. j

When it is desired to open the razor as shown in Fig. 6 the cross-piece 4I is pushed upwardly to the position shown in- Fig. 6. This movement -may be effected by the Aoperator of the razor putting his thumb on the under side of the crosspiece to push it upwardly. As this cross-piece 4| and its arms 39 and 40 are movingupwardly a lateral extension or flange 5I on the under side of each of the arms 39-40 comes into engagement with the under edge of the corresponding arms 29-31! whereby these arms are raised upwardly or, in other words, are pivoted about the axis of the pivots 3| and 32 along with the crosspiece 4| and the arms 39 and 40. In other words, the upward movement of the piece Il also results in the upward movement of the two arms 28 and 30 whereby these arms through their bifurcated ends are enabled to retract the razor blade inside of its sheath so that the cutting edge 2l of the razor blade is; covered by the sheath and is no longer exposed as shown in Fig. 6. 'I'he up ward movement of the arms 2940 is limited by the stop 50 formed integral with the arms -il. `Once the cross-piece 4l and its integral arms 39 and 40 have been raised to the open position 'asshown in Fig. 6, the razor blade unit 22 may thereafter be removed from the top of the supporting member I8 and discarded.' This discarded blade, due to the fact that its' cutting edge is completely covered will not in any way injure "or cut the hands of anybody who may happento handle the discarded blade.

Inasmuch as the object andadvantages ofthis,

invention have been covered and fully described in the fore part of thepresent specifications, it is not thought tobe necessaryto further elaborate on the same. "Of course, it is to be understood that although I have'lllustrated and described in pended claims.

between which the blade is disposed with its cut--y ting edge in proximity to an open end of the enclosure ready to be projected through said open end into anexposed position, said blade being longer than said enclosure 'so as to have its ends project beyond the ends of the enclosure'for engagement with parts of a blade holder.

2. The combination with'a razor blade having i a cutting edge confined within a scabbard and' provided with 'free ends of a holder for -the blade having means for projecting'the blade edge out ofthe scabbard into'av shaving position, said means including arms for engaging said free ends of said blade to cause a relative movement between the blade and its scabbard.

3. The combination with a razor blade having a cutting edge confined within a scabbard and provided with free ends of a holder for the blade having means for projecting the blade edge out of the scabbard -into a shaving position, said means including arms for engaging said free ends of said blade to cause a relative movement between the blade and its scabbardv upon closing and opening ofthe razor blade` holder.

4. 'I'he combination with a razor blade having a cutting edge conned within a scabbard, of a.v

holder for the blade having means'for projecting the blade edge out of the scabbard into a shaving position, and for thereafter retracting the 'edge' back into 'the confines of the scabbard y prior tomremoval of the blade from the holder, said means in engagement with said blade for causing relative movement' between the blade and its scabbard each time the holder is closed and opened.

5.` The combination with e safety razor medel `into a shaving position, said blade and scabbard being in tight -frictional cooperation with each other both while in and out of seid homer.

6. As an article of manufacture, a safety razor 1blade unitA for -use in its entirety in a holder,

insertable in and detachable from the'holder ing when the blade unit is in the holder, said blade proper being of such narrow width and thinness that the cutting edge would necessarily be contacted in the normal readyv manual handling of' the blade proper unless protected by a guard therefor and lso-iiexible as to require reinforcement to permit; such handling without bending or deforming said bladeproper, yand a scabbard therefor sheathing said cutting edge and l reinforcing saidy blade proper so as to permi such manual handling. l

7. As an article of manufacture, a holder for a safety razor blade unit comprising relatively movable parts and having a cutting edge, for use in its entirety in theholder, said holder including a handle and a support for the razor ment v.between -the parts -of said blade unit to dispose the cutting edge of said Iblade unit in proper shaving position.

.f .8. As an article of manufacture, a holder for a safety razor blade unit comprising relatively movable parts and having a cutting edge, for

use in its entirety in the holder, said holder inmovable parts and-having a cutting edge, for

use in its entirety in theholder, said holder including a handle and a support for the razor blade unit and means for causing relative move- '50 blade unitand means for causing relative move- Y ment between the parts of said blade unit tv lfor acting on said blade unit prior to its release from the holder to cause one of theblade unit parts to sheath said cutting edge.

10. The combination with a razor blade unit comprising a, blade proper having a cutting edge adapted to be' disposed for shaving when the blade unit is in a holder and a scabbard'therefor relatively movable with regard to said blade proper, for use in its entirety in a holder, insertable in and detachable from the holder in its entirety, of a holder for said blade unit with means for causing relative movement between the cutting edge of the blade proper and the scabbard.

11.v A safety razor blade unit comprising a sheath, a portion having a cutting edge disposed Within the sheath, the sheath and portion being relatively movable to expose or cover the cutting edge, the portion having means xed thereto, and exposed externally of the sheath for sluiting the sheath and portion relatively.

I 12. A safety razor blade unit comprising a sheath, a portion having a cutting edge disposed Within the sheath, the sheath and portion being relatively movable to expose or cover the cutting l.

edge, `the blade unit having means for cooperating with a. holder adapted to shift the sheath and portion relatively, Y v

13. A safety razorblade unit comprising a sheath, a portion having a cutting edge disposedv within the sheath, the sheath and portion being relatively movable to expose the cutting edge, the blade unit having means for cooperating with a holder adapted to shift the sheath and portion relatively.

14. A safety razor blade unit comprising a sheath, a portion having a cutting edge disposed within the sheath, the sheath and portion being relatively movable to expose or cover the cutting edge and means accessible from the exterior of the blade unit for shifting the sheath and portion relatively, and for securing the blade unit in a holder therefor.

l5. A safety razor blade unit comprising a sheath, a portion having a cutting edge disposed within the sheath, the sheath and portion being relatively movable to expose or cover the cutting edge, said sheath and portion being arranged to be relatively moved without requiring their separation at any time, and having means for securing the blade unit in a holder therefor.

EDMUND J ORGEN SEN. 

